Trailer coupler and brake actuator



Jan. 4, 1927.

1,613,086 F. COX

TRAILER 'COUPLER AND BRAKE AGTUATOR FledJar'l. 28. 1926 Patented Jan'. =4 1927.

' UNITED sfTATEsPATENT OFFICE.

FLYD COX, F -SHERIDALL WYOMING.

TRAILER COUPLER AND BRAKE ACTUATOR. l

It is the aim of this invention to rovide e an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet

an eilicient and desirable coupler for connecting a trailer with a leading vehicle' and embodying means for automatically apply-4 ing breaks to said trailer, whenever it has a tendency to run forward Iupon the leading i vehicle, for instance, `when descending steep;A grades.

A further aim is locked in effective er cannot drift.

A further aim is to make uni ue rovision for preventing actuation of the ra eapply ving means when desired, for instance, when the leading vehicle and the trailer are to be backed. v

With the foregoing in view, the invention.

position, so that the trail- Yto provide novel meansl whereby when the coupler is leftl upon the`` trailer, its brake-applying means may be`V Application led January 28, 19276. Serial No. $4,428.

verse pin passes through the inner end l latter, said lugs extending in planes longiresides in the novel subjecthmatter hereiny after described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure' 1 isa side elevation showing the brake actuating means in normal runningv position. .y

Figure 2 is a sectional view with the brake actuating means in the position of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the brake actuating means in effective position and locked in such position. Figure l.tis a top plan view.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectionaLview on line 5--5 of Fi 3.

The preferre details of construction are shown in the drawings above brieflyk de` scribed and will be hereinafter specifically 40 described, with the understanding however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations'may be made.

-The numeral G'designates a rigid tube having one end 7 4constructed in any desired manner for connection to a trailer, while disposed at the other end'of said tube is a plunger. 8 partly within the tube and partly projecting from the latten-the outer end ofv this plunger being provided with suitable means such as an opening 9 to facilitate connection with the leading vehicle.` A transtudinally disposed with respect to the aforesaid tube. Positioned between these lugs 14 and'at 15, fulcrumed to said 1u for movement in a plane parallel with t e aforesaid planes, is abrake-'actuator which is preferably in the form of a bell crank v16. One arm' of this bell crank extends inwardly from the lugs 14, under the tube 6 and' is pivoted at 17 to the lower end of the link 18. This link passes through the'slot 12 and enters a slot19 inthe plunger 8, and is pivoted to` the latter at 20. The other arm of the actuator 16 extends downwardly and may be connected by a rod or other desired means 21, with brake mechanism of the trailer.'y

Normally, when the leading vehicle andkthe trailer are running, the brake actuator 16fis disposed as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2,-the link 18 being then at an o tuse an le to the plunger 8. When the speed of t e leading vehicle however is checked or for some other reason,the trailer has a tendency to run forwardly toward said \leading vehicle, the

plunger 8 slides inwardly, thereby causing abuts a collaror the like 23A which may the link 18 to rock,v the actuator 16 to the position of Fig. 3. Thus, the actuator 16 pulls upon the connection 21 and applies the trailr er brakes. When the plunger 8 is again and in orderto cushion. this outward movement, a coiled compression spring 22 is dis'- posed in the outward.v ath of the projectingends of theY pin 10. his spring preferably wel engage the inner end of the sleeve 13. Itthe leading vehicle is to be uncoupled from the trailer, and it is desired that the pulled outwardly, the brakes are released, l

wbrakes of the latter shall remain set, thisl through openings shall be held against inward movement, for

instance when the trailer and the leading machine are to be backed. To permit such holding, the plunger is tornied with an opening 27 at the outer end of the tube 6, through which to pass an appropriate pin to abut said tube. rllhe pin 28 shown in the drawings, may well be used for this urpose, and normally, said .pin may exten through an additional opening 29 oit the plunger l8 spaced outwardly from the opening 27 .lso that it may be utilized to limit the inward movement of the plunger. i

Preferably used in conjunction withthe details of construction above described, is an antitriction roller 30, permitting easy sliding of the plunger 8. To mount this roller, ll prefer to stamp a pair of lugs 31 upwardly from the sleeve 13, the roller being mounted between these lugs on a rivet or the like 32, and having its peripheral portion receivable in a slot 33 in the tube 6.

By constructing the device in the manner shown and described or in an analogous way, not only will it be simple and inexpensive, but it will possess the advantages of being etticient, durable and generally desirable. f

l, A trailer lcttupler and brake actuator comprising a tube having means at one end for connecting it to a vehicle, ly in and partly projecting from the other end of said tube and having means for connection to another vehicle, said tube having a-longitudinal slot, a lug projecting from the last named yend ci said tube, a brake actuaf tor comprising a bell-crank lever pivoted to said lug, one arm of said bell-crank lever extending longitudinally ot said tube, a link pivotally connected at one end to said plunger and at its other end'tcsaid longitudinally extending arm of the bell-crank lever, and a rod connected to the other arm oit said bell-crank lever, whereby the latter is connected to the brake mechanism of the trailer.

2. A .trailer coupler and brake actuator comprising a tube having means at one end for connecting it to a vehicle, a plunger partly in and partly projecting from the other end ci said tube and having means for connection to another vehicle, said tube having a longitudinal slot, a metal plate bent to provide a sleeve and a pair oi' parallel lugs projecting therefrom, said sleeve being secured around the plunger-receiving portion of the tube with said lugs projecting from the slotted side of said tube. in planes extending longitudinally of the latter, a brake actuator between and pivoted to said lugs a plunger part- 4collar and the projecting for movement parallel with the above-named planes, and a link pivoted to'said actuator and said plunger, said link passing through the slot of said tube. A

3. A trailer coupler and brake actuator comprising front and rear movably connected sections -for connection to leading and trailing vehicles respectively, brake apply'- ing means operatively connected with said sections and means directly connected with said brake applying means for positively l holding the latter in eective position when thevtrailer is Vdisconnected from the leading vehicle.

4. A trailer coupler and brake actuator comprising a tube having means at one end for connecting it to a vehicle and having in its opposite sides aligned pin holes and in its lower side a longitudinal slot, a plunger slidably mounted in and projecting trom the forward end of said tube and having in said projecting end means for connection to a leading vehicle, its inncr end a transverse pin hole adapted to align with the-pin holes in said tube when the plunger is in a retracted position tor applying the brake, a brake actuator pivotally connected to said operative connection with the inner end of said plunger through the slotin the lower side Yof the tube, anda pin adapted to be inserted through the align the plunger and tube to lock the plunger and brake actuator in effective position when the tube and having an said plunger having near l ed pin holes in trailer is disconnected from the leading vehicle.

5. A trailer coupler and brake actuator comprising. a tube having means at one end for connecting it to a trailer and having in its opposite sides aligned longitudinal slots and in its lower side another longitudinal slot, a plunger slidably mounted in and projecting fromv the' forward end "of said tube and having in said projecting end means tor connection with another vehicle, a brake act-uator comprising a bell-'crank lever pivotally mounted on said tube, a link extending through the slot in the lower side of the tube and having one end pivotally connected with one arm ot said bell-crank lever, a pivot pin ivotally connecting the opposite end of said link to the inner end of the plunger, the ends of said pin projecting through the longitudinal slots in Vthe sides of the sleeve, a collar lixed o'n said sleeve, a cushioning spring arranged on the sleeve between said ends of said pin. and means for connecting the other arm ot said bell-crank lever with the brake mechanisin of the trailer.

6. A trailer 'coupler and brake actuator comprising a tube having means \at one end tor connectin it to la vehicle, a plunger partly inv an partly projecting from the other end of said tube and having means tor lill) liti ies

' eonnecion to another vehicle and having a lug for movement in a plane extendin lon plurality of openings an the outer end of gitudinally of the tube7 and a. linkpivoted w said tube through whieh to pass a in to to said acuator and saldi plunger, said link limit` the inward movement of the p unger passing through the slot of said tube.

fior to hold the same against inward move- Inftestimony whereof I have hereunto afmenfa, said tube .having a longitudinal slot, a fixed my signature. lug projectin from the last named end of Y said ube, a rake actuaor pivoted to said FLOYD COX., 

